We regularly feature pieces about plastic reduction and are keen to find out about the ideas you have out there. A piece in our June issue prompted reader Tim Lusher, general manager at Johnsons Apparelmaster in Newmarket, to get in touch.

The Newmarket plant have set in motion an operation to take plastic out of the workplace by removing cups from vending machines and canteens, providing the staff with reusable water bottles and auditing plastic use in waste bins.

Vending machine waste accounted for up to 2000 single use plastic cups a week. They’re also reviewing the use of alternative solutions to poly bags with customers and are taking steps to reduce the amount of single use polythene.

Johnsons teamed up with a local school to present about their initiatives and the effects plastic pollution has on our environment. Lusher set the school a mission to collect as many plastic bottles as possible and together they created a 10ft plastic dolphin sculpture for the recent Newmarket town carnival.

The school won first prize which really cemented the excitement and enthusiasm surrounding the whole project, as well as demonstrating a great way for businesses to work with their local communities. Lusher said, “We genuinely believe that small steps make a big impact and that the process to reduce single use plastic will involve a longer term, sustained awareness and education campaign.

We’re proud of our achievements so far and will continue to do what we can to reduce our impact on the environment.

Our generation have a responsibility to set the younger generation on a path that ensures environment sustainability and educate our young minds to do great things.”

Tim Lusher, general manager, Johnsons Apparelmaster Newmarket, pictured right, with pupils and teachers from the local school and their award-winning plastic bottle ‘dolphin’

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